Approach

As a licensed psychotherapist, I enjoy supporting people as they find creative ways to live in alignment with their whole selves – body, mind, heart, and spirit.

Clients I work with tend to start therapy with one or more of the following complaints:

difficulty navigating intimate relationships

outward appearances of success yet inward feelings of emptiness

difficulty identifying feelings, needs, desires, ambitions

depression, anxiety, or both

chronic feelings of overwhelm or dysregulation

low self-esteem and shame

eco-anxiety and despair about the state of the world

burnout, exhaustion, compassion fatigue

chronic pain and illness

obsessive, compulsive, or addictive behaviors

difficulty managing stress

difficulty navigating a transition or making an important life decision

grief and other difficult feelings regarding a loss

With a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship as the foundation of my work with clients, I draw from a variety of treatment approaches, including the relational, experiential, somatic, trauma-focused, and mindfulness-based therapies. My approach is equally informed by evidence-based practices (including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused CBT, Exposure Therapy, Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Harm Reduction Therapy) as it is by my intuitive understanding of what a client is needing based on many years of experience – and it is always a collaborative process that is tailored to each client’s unique growth process.

The overarching goals of psychotherapy are to heal the divisions created in the mind and to experience one’s self differently. Clients have reported the following changes in the course of our work together:

deepened self awareness

improved quality of relationships

resiliency in the face of adversity and change

clearer understanding of life purpose

the feeling of being ‘in the driver’s seat’ again

greater self-compassion and compassion for others

the feeling of being ‘settled’ inside

greater access to creativity

stronger ability to make conscious behavioral choices

living well with pain

recovering from chronic depression and anxiety

In addition to therapy in my office, I also offer nature-based therapy sessions – sometimes called ‘ecotherapy’ – in natural places around the Bay. Please inquire about this type of work.